Reading Town manager Colin Millard is hoping his youngsters will show the right character when they play Cheltenham Saracens at Scours Lane tomorrow (kick off 3pm).

Town lost 2-0 at home to Holyport on Tuesday in a game that saw them end up with only nine players on the field.

Millard had used all three substitutes before losing skipper Tristam Dennis with a suspected broken nose and then seeing Carl Davies sent off.

“It was a disappointing result as the players had put in a lot of hard work in recent weeks, but I am looking for them to show some character and bounce back on Saturday,” said Millard.

Boosted by a run of seven successive league and cup wins, Town started confidently and created a number of chances in the opening stages.

However, the game changed in the 25th minute when Mike Hancock brought down Matt Skinner to concede a penalty, which Jamie West converted.

Millard said: “By conceding that penalty we gave away the impetus to the opposition. Once they scored that penalty, we seemed to lose our way and there was only going to be one winner.”

Town were in trouble again with two deflections, both caused by Danny Horscroft challenges. The first hit the crossbar but the other looped over keeper Nathan Silver with Fred Tripp being credited with 32nd-minute goal.

Just before half-time Town lost Sam Bangura with an ankle injury and sweeper Hancock was replaced by Ed Chappe coming into midfield, while Kensley Maloney gave way to Ed Gadd.

Midway through the second half Dennis had to leave the field, reducing Town to 10 men. To add to the home side’s misery, Davies was shown a straight red card 10 minutes from time for striking out at Ryan Britnell.

Town had new signing, 18-year-old Ghanian Richmond Osei, whose previous clubs include Farnborough, on the bench

Highmoor Ibis, who went top of the Hellenic League by beating previous leaders Ascot 1-0 on Saturday and then Bracknell 2-0 on Monday, will be looking to maintain their winning run at Thatcham tomorrow.

Manager Marcus Richardson will be hoping his side perform like they did against Ascot, rather than the Robins.

Only a post and two goal-line clearances from Devonn Reid prevented Bracknell from leaving Palmer Park with at least a point.

But, while their all-round performance may have lacked a little in consistency, there is no doubting the commitment in the camp.

As Richardson said: “We haven’t got the budget which other teams have got in this league. But we have a collective group of players who stick together and want to be a part of the club’s future.

“They are showing passion and desire and there is not much I can argue about with my team at the moment.”

Highmoor are away to Ardley United next Tuesday, while Reading Town take on Binfield at Scours Lane.

In Division 1 East, Woodley will be aiming to build on their 4-1 win over Burnham Reserves last weekend when they travel to Chinnor tomorrow.